By Barb Helfman 

October 4, 2009

This year's CalScape Expo was Terrific!

I missed many of the seminars since I had to man my booth, however, the Green Roof presentation by Jim Mumford was OUTSTANDING. One of the best presentations if not the very best I've ever attended in my 30 years of seminars etc. He was to the point, chock full of information I've not seen addressed in other Green Roof seminars for 'scapers. The room was packed and he wisely anticipated that and had two full size screens, one on each side of him at the podium so you could get a full view no matter where you sat. I tried writing but there was so much info that I finally gave up. Afterwards, I asked why no handout and he explained that he wanted it as an outline and his comments to expand. He did say it will be posted on the PIA website in the near future. This is one you do not want to miss!

He covered many of the grids and squares and other media used for Green roofs, among them our Freedom Squares, and it was a wealth of information. Couple of main points were that it is a MUST to have other related professionals involved. Engineer/Architect, storm water management person, roofer etc. and he stressed that this is not just throwing some plants on a roof. Liability and Safety are major concerns as is the possibility of negating the buildings roof warranty if an error is made. He also discussed the workers comp differences between interiorscape employees and those who do the green roof work. Huge difference in costs to you so he suggests forming another totally separate company for this work. This is not just as easy peezy as plop a plant.

                                                                                            Continue article >>